VIDEO: Why Homosexuality Should Be Banned

Seven impenetrable reasons why being gay should be illegal.

Report on anti-LGBT hate violence shows 24% increase in incidents over 2006

by Steve Rothaus
The Miami Herald

Overall, NCAVP’s 2007 report noted an alarming 24% increase in total number of victims reporting incidents of anti-LGBT violence (from 1,954 to 2,430). The number of incidents of anti-LGBT violence rose from 1,486 in 2006 to 1,833 in 2007 (+23%), based on reporting from the exact same reporting regions as the year prior (see comparison chart of victims, offenders and incidents 2006-2007 below). In 2007, total number of offenders also increased about 5% over numbers in 2006.

Additionally, 2007 had the third highest murder rate in the past 10 years that NCAVP has been compiling the Hate Violence Report (see chart of known anti-LGBT murders in the U.S. since 1997 below) with murders more than doubling (from 10 in 2006 to 21 in 2007). LGBT people also reported a 61% increase in sexual assaults perpetrated as hate crimes. While this increase is disturbing, Jovida Ross, Executive Director of Community United Against Violence in San Francisco states: “The fact that more people within the queer community are reporting sexual assaults is a hopeful sign that they are coming out of isolation to heal from trauma. It also demonstrates the positive impact of education and outreach.”

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11th Annual National Queer Arts Festival

San Francisco: The Queer Cultural Center will present the 11th Annual National Queer Arts Festival (NQAF) in San Francisco, June 1-30. The month-long festival of music, dance, visual art, spoken word, poetry, comedy, theater, and film will feature over 400 artists in 75 events and over 100 performances in 20 venues throughout San Francisco.

Visit the Queer Cultural Center site for more info.

World Vibe

by Lisa Hix
San Francisco Chronicle

Asian America affairs The six-week United States of Asian America Festival kicks off today with two art exhibitions. At SomArts Bay Gallery, curated by Taraneh Hemami and Anuradha Vikram, "East of the West" delves into the religious, ethnic and cultural diversity of the Middle East; the roles of women, queer and transgendered people in traditional culture; and the identity issues of immigrants. At SomArts Main Gallery, "Flo Oy Wong, 70/30: Seventy Years of Living, Thirty Years of Life," curated by Nancy Hom, celebrates the groundbreaking work of a Bay Area artist known for explorations of community issues through art. On Saturday, the festival screens "Bonds That Heal: Queer API Women's Films," a program of films created through the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project, curated by Madeleine Lim. See Web site for more festival events and schedule details. Today through May 25. Free. SomArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St., S.F. (415) 864-4126, www.apiculturalcenter.org.

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Public Forum: Man upset over use of the word "queer"

The Salt Lake Tribune

I could see Troy Williams' comparisons between gays seeking acceptance from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a battered wife returning to her abusive husband ("Abuse and restitution," Forum, April 17), but his reference to the "queer" community disturbed me.

Since "queer" has traditionally been a derogatory term, why have Williams and other gays and lesbians adopted it?

Straights like me find it offensive.

It reminds me of African Americans who use the n-word. Adopting a derogatory term is not healthy, nor does it help one's cause.

The current civil rights issue is gay and lesbian equal rights - to enjoy loving, committed relationships and to live without fear.

When gays and lesbians use "queer" to shock and disturb straight listeners, that reflects an immature teenage mentality that gays need to grow beyond in order to find an equal place in society.

I am not interested in parades with floats of muscle-bound gay men in Speedos any more than I support floats with heterosexual women in bikinis.

The gay community needs to act with maturity and dignity as it fights for equal rights.

That will lead to more respect and support than will attempts to shock.

Paul Fisher
Pleasant Grove

original article

Will you decide to be gay or straight today?

For eons gay men and women have been saying we are born gay. We have experienced it, lived through it and we know!

Isn't it interesting there are so many, who are not gay and have not experienced it, that "know" we are not born gay.

Pardon me, your homophobia is showing!

I got news for you:

If we aren't born gay, then you aren't born straight!

or if you want to flip that coin on the other side:

I decided to be gay the same day you decided to be straight!

So if we are to believe these people, sexuality is nothing but a whim. We can change our sexual orientation anytime we desire.

Folks, sexuality is not a "black and white" issue. It's not that simple.

Anyone who thinks it is should seek professional help because this type of thinking is literally killing people.

New Yorks' Homophobic St. Patrick's Day Parade

The New York St. Patrick's Day still excludes queers - and in fact, the organizers say that the message of their parade is explicitly anti-gay, and religious . In spite of the city's anti-discrimination laws, uniformed police, firefighters, and other city officials march under this message. By contrast, the St. Pat's for All parade March 2 in Queens was a safe space for celebration of LGBT people's important place in Irish communities.

But we were disturbed to find some marchers at St. Pat's for All, including some elected officials, who planned to march in the homophobic parade too. Electeds like Mayor Bloomberg have frequently joined in both - claiming to support queers in Queens, and then marching in the anti-gay - and much more public - Manhattan parade alongside conservative, religious-right homophobes. It's a shameful trick, but it works for them as long as queers only notice what happens in Queens, and homophobes focus on Fifth Avenue.

That's why it's so important for us to confront homophobia where it still marches, at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan. The parade is a major political and cultural event, broadcast nationally. The message of hate it carries matters very much. At least three queer youth have already been killed this year by other kids who were taught to fear them, and religious vitriol is gaining acceptance around the country. To challenge the systemic homophobia that's still wreaking violence on our communities, we have to leave our safe spaces and confront homophobes in the spaces they control.

All are welcome to join Irish Queers in protest at the NYC St. Patrick's Day parade - March 17th, 11a.m. at 57th Street and Fifth Avenue.

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Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund Rebukes Okla. Rep Sally Kern

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) political-action committee, sent an open letter today to Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern in response to her anti-gay remarks. Speaking to a group of approximately 50 people at an Oklahoma county Republican club, Kern went into a diatribe about LGBT people. Read Legislator Claims Gays Are Bigger Threat Than Terrorists to learn more. To watch a video with the audio of Kern's complete comments, click here.

In response, The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund put a face to the lives ended by anti-gay violence: "The point is this: your words have consequences. Ask Judy Shepherd - her son, Matthew, was viciously murdered ten years ago by people who think like you. Ask the parents of Lawrence King, an openly gay eighth-grader who was gunned down in school last month by a classmate whose fear was stoked by words like yours. Just this past fall, Steven Domer, a 62-year-old gay man was brutally murdered right in your home state of Oklahoma. … Your words give aid and comfort to those who would hurt, maim and even kill people who are different from you. Comparing gays and lesbians to cancer and terrorism and saying they are the "biggest threat to America," gives license to others to treat us that way, especially given the leadership position you hold in your community." Hate groups in America are surging, according to a new Southern Poverty Law Center report. Are you at risk?

KENTUCKY: GLBT civil rights and voters

By Carrie Bass

We Democrats should be gearing up to vote, checking up on our registration and researching candidate platforms in preparation for a decision that could ultimately be made by states like Kentucky. The time is now to prioritize what and who is most important to you as an individual.

For me, the top issues that will swing my vote are the war in Iraq; abortion rights; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights; health care; education; and environmental policies. Among these issues, I feel that GLBT rights are receiving remarkably little (positive) commentary or attention from the mainstream media, but in my opinion, this is the forefront of civil rights movements.

I know that many people balk at the GLBT claim to the legacy of civil rights that includes women's suffrage and African-American protests. Regardless of whether I or anybody else believe that members of the GLBT community have any claim to recognition under the law as a protected class or that this group deserves to be given any rights at all, the GLBT community is making civil rights claims in courts, legislatures and classrooms across the nation.

Many public and government institutions are accepting the GLBT claim to civil rights. Our own university is a part of the movement away from criminalization and discrimination of GLBT peoples. Much to the dismay of certain Kentucky legislators, UK has given partner benefits to its employees, thus recognizing the legitimacy of such relationships, if not condoning them.

The ultimate goal of arguing for GLBT rights in a way that references past civil rights movements is that it calls into question the legality of restrictions for homosexuals that are not in place for heterosexuals.

If we are to discriminate on the basis of one factor alone, there must be a reason behind those limitations. For example, the government must establish a legitimate state interest in denying GLBT people's marital rights.

So far, the only arguments that have been given in favor of state and other discriminations of members of the GLBT community are ideologically or religiously based. Simply put, there is no reason to deny members of the GLBT community the same rights as heterosexuals happy with their gender identity and performance, outside of theories rooted in religion. Last I checked, religious condemnation was not reason enough to justify a discrimination of a group of people. Otherwise, adultery and fornication would still be criminalized.

The time has come to recognize that homosexuality and gender diversity are not a threat to the fabric of our society, despite what fundamentalists may have us think.

Here we are, on the verge of the next significant civil rights movement, and we have the chance to put candidates in office who want to work toward change. Look beyond the narrow scope of the present and consider a candidate who will promote change in the future.

full article

VIDEO: Silence=Death .. Get angry, hate crime rampant

Tennessee says NO to bigotry and ignorance

NASHVILLE - A House subcommittee voted Tuesday - for the second time and on a more formal basis - to kill state Rep. Stacey Campfield's (pictured) bill to prohibit teaching about homosexuality in Tennessee schools.

The move was coupled with a request that the state Department of Education investigate whether homosexuality is being discussed now in schools.

Bruce Opie, legislative liaison for the department, said "we will follow through" and report back to legislators "in a couple of weeks."

At a Feb. 19 meeting, Opie said he was unaware of any such instruction in kindergarten through eighth grade, which would be covered by Campfield's bill.

The roll call vote was 6-4 in favor of House Education Committee Chairman Les Winningham's motion to send the bill to the Department of Education, in effect killing it.

All Republicans on the panel - including Reps. Harry Brooks of Knoxville and Richard Montgomery of Seymour - sided with Campfield. All Democrats on the panel opposed him.

VIDEO: Paris gay pride event

Welcome

GLBTQ space welcomes you.

A space for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and queers.

Did I leave anyone out?

Probably, so I'll appologize now.

Soon, you will be able to access this space at: http://www.lgbt.bz